Taking to the stage alongside Zoe Wanamaker to present the awards for best actor and actress in a supporting role in a musical, Rob Brydon said: "All of us tonight have a bond, have something in common, whether you are a man or a woman, an actor or a director ... all of us are linked by one thing: we are all missing Countryfile."

The best supporting actor award went to David Bedella, who embraced Wanamaker and explained: "We are old friends. No, we really are. We were together at the national when I first started in this country, and it's been a wonderful ride."

Lara Pulver, who won best supporting actress for Gypsy, said she had the "privilege" to act on the London stage after a childhood spent scrap-booking her favourite musicals and plays.

Oscar-winner Mark Rylance lost out on winning another big award as Kenneth Cranham took home the best actor award for The Father.

Denise Gough used her best actress win for People, Places And Things to register her concern that all actresses nominated in her category are white.

After accepting the award from James Norton, she said: "Okay I've got 40 seconds so I've got to be quick. This is for my people, you all know who you are."

She then said she she was "just a bit disappointed" that, in a year marked by widespread uproar about the lack of diversity at awards shows, she was "sad" about the lack of diversity among the nominees in her own category.